CROSS DRESSING KATHARINE PREPARES TO SHOCK THANET

One day you’re a female Margate shop owner. The next you’re a man married to one of the most famous literary icons of the twentieth century.

Katharine Elvin is about to make her starring debut as Leonard Woolf, husband of the writer Virginia Woolf in a play, which is likely to both shock and entertain Thanet audiences.

“Virginia went mad and gay while she was married to Leonard,” Katharine says – so he was a man with a lot on his plate!”  

The play “Because Of The Moon”, due to open in Broadstairs on Wednesday May 11, throws a new light on writer Virginia Woolf, author of modern classics such as “To The Lighthouse” and “Mrs Dalloway”.

“Most people think of Virginia Woolf as a great writer, but what they often don’t realise is that she was also a serious businesswoman,” Katharine said, “She and her husband set up the Hogarth Press and that made her a boss as well as an artist. This play shows what it would it would have been like to work for her.”

The play, produced by the innovative Thanet-based Hags Ahoy company, tells the story of a 16 year old boy who lands an office job with the Woolfs – and gets his first work experience in the strange and heady world of the legendary artistic sect known as the Bloomsbury group.

The boy is played by a middle-aged actress and other female parts are played by men. Katharine thinks the cross-dressing adds to the interest. “It’s all about getting the character,” she says, “The gender doesn’t matter.”

Katharine’s shop is the retro boutique Helter Skelter in Margate old town, and specialises in pieces of iconic fashion, furniture and memorabilia from the ’60s and ’70s – so she knows what it’s like to run a creative business.

But the biggest challenge about the part, according to Katharine, is remembering to move like a man.“The great thing is having a pipe as a prop,” said Katharine, “It reminds you to behave physically more like a man.”

The play is on Wednesday to Saturday, 11^th to the 14^th May at 7.30pm every night at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs. All tickets are £6. To book ring 01843 604 253.